Corn-husking apparatus



July 29 1924.'

. 1,502,994 F. LEE 7 CORN HUSKING APPARATUS Filed June 27. 1923 's Sheets-Sheet 1 ffivifklzse M 29 1924. 1,502,994 -F. LEE

CORN HU SKING APPARATUS Filed June 27. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E a/M266 Patented July 29, 1924.

FRANK LEE, OF GLEARWATEB, NEBRASKA.

COBN-HUSKIN G APPARATUS.

Application filed June 27, 1923. Serial No. 648,027.

To all whom it may concerns Be it known that I, FRANK LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clearwater, in the county of Antelope and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Husking Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to corn husking apparatus and more particularly to devices of this character in which the husks are removed from the corn by engagement of the ear with the toothed elements which by their engagement clasp the husk to tear it from the ear.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character a construction whereby the passage of an ear of corn between the jaws of associated heads causes movement of the jaws toward their respective heads, together with means operated by this movement for clasping the husks to the teeth of the'jaws.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby return movement of the jaws to normal position clears the jaws of their engaged husks and prepares them for their next engagement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character capable of accommodating ears of corn of varying sizes and which accordingly may be employed for husking corn as it is received from the field.

A still further object of the invention is to provide adjustable means controlling the return movement of the jaws, thereby permitting the regulation of the period of time during which these jaws retain the husk engaged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is extremely simple in its construction and operation, which may be inexpensively manufactured, and which will be durable and eflicient in service.

These and other objects I attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a husking machine constructed in accordance with my invention, the huskmg heads belng shown as housed Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a hu-sking head, the releasing cam being indicated in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the husking head;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cam;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the cam show- 0 the means for adjusting the same; Figure 6' is a side elevation of the stationary jaw;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the movable jaw;

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the engagement between [the fixed and movable jaws;

Figure 9 is a sectional view through a detached plunger showing the mounting of the jaw within the plunger;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the opposite side of the head from that shown in Figure 2.

Figures '11 and 12 are fragmentary detail views showing the movement of the jaws.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a supporting frame within which are rotatably supported three. shafts 11, each shaft 11 having mounted thereon a head 12 including a plurality of jaw members 13 herein after more particularly to be described.

One of the shafts 11 is provided with means as at 14: whereby it may be driven and the shafts 11 are so connected to one another,

by gearing indicated generally ,at 15, that The they rotate in the same direction. shafts 11 are so positioned that the jaw members 13 thereon are arranged about a common center 16 so as to form anopening of a size less than the smallest ear of corn to be husked by the machine. The frame 10 includes inner frame members 17, each of which provides a bearing 18 for the shaft 11 of a head 12 and a support for an adjustable trip member 19'for controlling the movement of the jaw members 13 of a second head 12.

Each head 12 comprises a disc 20 through which the shaft 11 of the head extends, the disc being provided about the shaft receiving opening thereof with flanges 21 through which are directed securing elements for positioning the head upon the shaft. Each disc is provided with a plurality of c1rcumferentially spaced substantially radially directed bores 22 opening through the periphery of the disc and in each of these bores a plunger 28 is provided with a bore 2st in its inner end in which is seated one end of a spring 25, the opposite end of each abuts the inner end wall of the bore 22 in wh 1ch the plunger is mounted, the spring serv ng to force the plunger outwardly, but being of insufficient length to force the plunger over the outer end of the bore. Each plunger 28 has formed at its outer end a head 26 having formed therein a slot 27 in which are mounted main and auxiliary jaws 28 and 29. The main jaw is held against movement with relation to the head 26 of the plunger by means of securing elements extending through the head at one side of the slot and having threaded engagement in the main jaw.

The main jaw 28 has the outer edge thereof concavely arcuately curved and provided with teeth 81 extending in one direction. These teeth have the backs thereof substantially straight while the under parts thereof are undercut below the point of the teeth for a purpose presently to appear.

Formed in the stationary jaw 28 adjacent the ends thereof are substantially arcuately aligned slots 82 paralleling the toothed edge of the jaw. The auxiliary jaw 29 is similar in shape to the jaw 28 and the toothed edge thereof has its teeth 88 facing in the opposite direction from the teeth 81 of the main jaw 28. Extending through the main jaw 28 and the slots 82 thereof are securing elements 84 having threaded engagement with the auxiliary jaw 29 and locked in adjusted positions by means of lock nuts 85. The slots 82 of the main jaw are of such length that when the auxiliary jaw is so positioned that the securing elements 84 are positioned at one end of the slots 82 of the main jaw, the points of the teeth of the main and auxiliary jaws are substantially aligned and po sitioned at the opposite ends of the slots. The teeth of the main and auxiliary jaws are likewise approximately aligned but are aligned with teeth spaced a full tooth from the one with which they are aligned when engaged with the first named end of the slot. In this connection attention is directed te- Figures 11 and 12. In these figures I have designated a certain tooth 81 of the main jaw as A and the corresponding tooth of the auxiliary jaw as B. It will be seen that in the first of these figures, with the auxiliary jaw at one end of its travel, the teeth A and B are aligned and that by reason of the undercutting of these teeth below the points thereof an opening is provided through which an article being held may extend without being sheared.

By inspecting the second figure it will be seen that the movement of the auxiliary jaw has aligned the teeth B thereof with the tooth of the main jaw next adjacent the tooth A. It will be noted that during this movement the back of the tooth B of the auxiliary jaw has acted as a pusher to clean or remove from the tooth of the main jaw 28 anything which might be disposed therein, while the teeth of the main jaw have accomplished the same function for the teeth of the auxiliary jaw. Thus the auxiliary jaw when shifted on the main jaw from one end to the other of its slot during movement in one direction to coact with the main jaw to engage in the teeth thereof any substance which might be pressing thereagainst and to hold said substance, and during its movement in the opposite direction acts to discharge from the teeth anything which might be held therein as a result of the first described movement.

In order to provide for this movement I secure upon one face of the disc 20 of the head a collar 86 having an upstanding flange 87. This flange is provided with openings 88 corresponding in number and arrangement to the plungers 28, and through each opening is directed the inner end of an operating rod 88 of such size that it is freely movable through the opening and the other end thereof may partake of swinging movement toward and away from the plungers. The outer ends of the operating rods 88 are provided with a head 89 which is furcated to receive an ear 40 formed upon the associated auxiliary car 29 and which is pivotally connected thereto as at 4-1. The inner end of the operating rod is threaded and has mounted thereon an adjusting nut 42 hearing against the inner face of the flange 87 and serving to limit the outward movement of the operating rod. Between the flange 87 and head 89 of the operating rod a spring 48 surrounds the operating rod and normally urges this head outwardly. It will be seen that if the plunger 28 is forced inwardly against the action of this spring 25, the tendency of the operating rod 88 to remain stationary under the influence of its spring 48 will cause the auxiliary jaw which is connected to this operating rod to remain stationary until it has shifted for the limit of its travel, with the result that during inward movement of the head, the teeth of the auxiliary jaw are moved to engage any substance which may be abutted against the main and auxiliary jaws of the plunger to engage with this substance. Upon pressure being released and the plunger moving outwardly, this ope-ration is reversed, the outward movement of the plunger causing shifting of the auxiliary jaw to clear the teeth of the main jaw. The mounting of the operating rod 88 permits yielding thereof to accommodate excessive movement of the plunger and accordingly the same will not be engaged by a movement of the plunger 23 greater than that necessary to shifting of the auxiliary jaw from one end of its travel to'the other end thereof.

In order to'provide for maintenance of the plunger 23 in position with the jaws thereof in engaging or holding position, I provide upon thedisc 20 at the opposite side thereof from the collar 36 an outstanding flange tat shown in the present instance as attached thereto and having'atits outer end an outwardly directed rim 45. Slidably directed through the rim are the reduced shank portions 46 of latches 47, extending through bores 48 formed in the disc 20 and opening into the bores 22 of the plungers 23. The adjacent faces of the plungers 23 have formed thereon a ratchet rack 19 with which the latches e7 coact, the latches being forced into engagement with the racks of the plungers by springs 50 surrounding the reduced shank portions 46 thereof between the plunger proper and the rim 4:5; It will be seen that the latches 4&7 are constructed to permit an uninterrupted movement of the plunger 23 into the bore 22 thereof, but to retain these plungers against return movement. Uponthe outer face of th rim 45 are mounted pairs of bearings 51 corresponding in number and arrangement to the latches 4E7-and between each pair of bearings is pivoted a lever 52, the outer end of which is furcated to receive the shank portion of its associated latch. The outer ends of the shank portion 4L6 of the latches project beyond the outer face of the levers 52 and have directed therethrough a pin 53 bearing against the outer face of the lever.

It will be seen that by engaging the inner ends of these levers the latches 47 may be withdrawn to permit outward movement of the plungers 23. It will also be seen that the inner ends of these levers will normally travel in one path, it being understood that normal travel is represented by that travel of the head while the plungers 23 thereof are in extended position. Accordingly if a plunger be depressed the associated latch member 47 will move inwardly to engage in a tooth of the rack formed therein with a result that by this inward movement the inner end of the associated lever 52 is forced outwardly from the disc and extended beyond the path of travel of those levers whose plungers are not engaged in the racks. Therefore, by forcing the end of the lever 52 thus exposed inwardly the plunger will be released for outward movement with its attending clearness of the teeth of the jaws thereof. This release is accomplished through a releasing cam 54 secured to a frame member by the trip member 19 hereinbefore referred to. This tripmember is shown in the present instance as comprising a cam 54 in the form of a substantially semi-circular flange provided upon a bearing member 55 rotatably receiving the shaft 11 of the head. At one end this flange is provided with an abrupt shoulder 56. The opposite end is provided with an inclined shoulder 57 upon the surface of which the inner ends of the levers 52 engage. This cam is made adjustable by providing in the rear face of the flange a plurality of threaded openings 58 selectively engageable by a securing element 59 extended through the frame member-17 with which they are associated.

In the use of the machine the three heads are so positioned that the jaw members of the plungers thereof combine to form an openingtherebetween of a size slightly less than the smallest ear to be accommodated. The

cars are then fed into this opening through a a suitable chute C which may be of any desired construction and which preferably is employed for connecting the machine with a snapping mechanism of any desired type. This snapping mechanism forms no part of my invention and is accordingly not herein illustrated. In feeding the ears to the open ing the same are fed singly, the small ends thereof foremost, being preferably fed by gravity. As the ears enter the opening the engagement of the teeth with the same will of course tend to pass the ears through the opening. The ears passing between the heads force the plungers which engage therewith inwardly with the result that the auxiliary jaws are moved and the husks of these ears engaged. This engagement is maintained a sufficient length of time to tear the husk from the ear and continued through the period of passage of the ear between the heads. At a predetermined point the plungers are released by the cam and moved outwardly, ejecting the husks from the teeth and thereby dropping the same so that they do not interfere with the engagement of the husks by the teeth of the plunger during the next rotation. While I haveherein illustrated the machine as being horizontally disposed and the ears as being fed thereto by gravity, it will of course be obvious that any suitable method of feeding the ears to the heads may be employed and the heads may accordingly be positioned in any desired manner. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction of the heads employed may be altered to a considerable degree without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1,111 corn husking apparatus, gripping means adapted to grip the husks of an ear of corn introduced therebetween at points spaced about the periphery thereof, and

means for moving said gripping means in divergent relation from the point of engage ment with the husks to thereby strip the husks from the ear and eject the ear, said gripping means including pairs of jaws operated by the engagement thereof with an ear of corn to grip the husks of the corn therebetween and to thereby draw the husks from the ear and strip the ear during such divergent movement.

2. In corn husking apparatus, gripping means adapted to grip the husks of an ear of corn introduced therebetween at points spaced about the periphery thereof, means for moving said gripping means in divergent relation from the point of engagement with the husks to thereby strip the husks from the ear and eject the ear, a yieldable mounting for said gripping means yielding during the passage of an ear of corn between the gripping means to permit passage of the ear, and operating means rendered active by the yielding of the last named means foroperating said gripping means.

3. In corn husking apparatus, a plurality of concentered rotatable heads rotating in the same direction, means carried by said heads and adapted to grasp the husks of an ear of corn introduced therebetween, and means associated with the heads releasing the grasping means after a predetermined interval.

4. In corn husking apparatus, a plurality of concentered rotatable heads, means for rotating said heads in the same direction, means carried by said heads for engaging an ear of corn introduced therebetween and yielding during such engagement, and gripping means carried by the first named means and operated by the yielding thereof to grip the husks of the ear.

5. In corn husking apparatus, a plurality of concentered rotatable heads rotating in the same direction, means carried by said heads adapted to engage an ear of corn introduced therebetween and yield during such engagement, gripping means carried by the first named means and operated by the yielding thereof for grasping the husks of the ear, and means for operating the gripping means releasing the gripping means after a. predetern'iined travel thereof beyond the point at which the husks are gripped.

6. In corn husking apparatus, a head comprising a disk, plurality of substantially radially directed plungers yieldably mounted in said disk, and means carried by the outer ends of said plungers and operated by movement of the plungers toward the axis of the disk for grasping a substance engaged therewith.

7. In corn husking apparatus, a head comprising a disk, a plurality of substantially radially directed plungers yieldably mounted in said disk, a pair of relatively shiftable jaws carried by each of said plungers and adapted when shifted in one direction to grasp the husks of an ear of corn engaged thereby, and means for shifting said jaws operated by movement of said plungers toward the axis of the disk.

8. In corn husking apparatus, a head comprising a disk, a plurality of substantially radially directed plungers yieldably mounted in said disk, means carried by the outer ends of said plungers and operated by movement of the plungers toward the axis of the disk for grasping a substance engaged therewith, means carried by the disk and coacting with said plungers permitting movement of the plungers inwardly preventing outward movement thereof, the lastnamed means being withdrawable.

9. In corn husking apparatus, a head comprising a disk, a plurality of substantially radially directed plungers yieldably mounted in said disk, means carried by the outer ends of said plungers and operated by movement of the plungers toward the axis of the disk for grasping a substance engaged therewith, means carried by the disk and ooacting with said plungers permitting movement of the plungers inwardly preventing outward movement thereof, the last named means being withdrawable, and a trip associated with the head for withdrawing the last named means.

10. In corn husking apparatus, a head comprising a disk, a plurality of substantially radially directed plungers yieldably mounted in said disk, means carried by the outer ends of said plungers and operated by movement of the plungers toward the axis of the disk for grasping a substance engaged therewith, means carried by the,

disk and coacting with said plungers permitting movement of the plungers inwardly and preventing outward move-ment thereof, the last named means being withdrawable, and means associated with the diskand rotatably adjustable about the axis of the disk for withdrawing the last named means.

11. In corn husking apparatus, a head including a disk, a plurality of substantially radially directed plungers yieldably mounted in said disk, a fixed jaw carried by the outer end of each plunger, a i'novable jaw associated with each fixed jaw and means connecting the movable jaw and disk for shifting the movable jaw upon longitudinal shifting movement of the plungers.

12. In. corn husking apparatus, a head comprising a disk having a plurality of sub stantially radially directed bore-s formed therein and opening through the periphery thereof, a plunger slida-bly mounted in each of said bores, springs forcing the plungers outwardly in the bores, a latch associated with each plunger permitting inward movement of the plunger but engaging the same means associated to prevent return movement thereof, and a pair of jaws carried by the outer end of each. plunger and operating upon a predetermined longitudinal shifting movement of their associated plunger toward the aXis of the disk to grasp a substance with which they are engaged.

13. In corn husking apparatus, a head comprising a disk having a plurality of substantially radially directed bores formed therein and opening through the periphery thereof, a plunger slidably mountedin each of said bores, springs forcing the plungers outwardly in the bores, a latch associated with each plunger permitting inward movement of the plunger but engaging the same to prevent return movement thereof, and a pair of jaws carried by the outer end of each plunger and operating upon a predetermined longitudinal shifting movement of their associated plunger toward the axis of the disk to grasp a substance with which they are engaged, and means associated with said disk for shifting said latches to release the plungers thereof at apredetermined period in the rotation of said disk.

14. In corn husking apparatus, a support, a member mounted upon the support and shiftable upon its longitudinal axis, a toothed jaw fixed to the member, a second jaw slidably mounted upon the first named jaw and a connection between the second jaw and the support maintaining the second jaw stationary during initial shifting movement of .the member to thereby cause shifting of the second jaw with relation to the first named jaw, said second named jaw operating during shifting movement upon the first named jaw in one direction to force material engaged therewith into engagement with the teeth of the first named jaw and during shifting movement in the opposite direction to withdraw engaged material from the teeth of the first named jaw.

15. In corn husking apparatus as a subcombination, a toothed jaw and shiftable with the j aw and operated by engagement of an ear of corn therewith for forcing the husks of the ear of corn into engagement with the teeth of the jaw and coacting with the teeth of the jaw to grip the husk.

16. In corn husking apparatus as a subcombination, a relatively fixed toothed jaw and means associated with the-jaw and reciprocable longitudinally thereof, operated by engagement of an ear of corn with the jaw for forcing the husks of the ear of corn into engagement with the teeth thereof and coacting with the teeth of the jaw to grip the husk.

17 In corn husking apparatus as a subcombination, a pair of jaws havingoppositely directed teeth and connected together for limited longitudinal reciprocatory move- ,nected together for ception of an of tooth jaws being ment, the teeth of one jaw forcing into the teeth of the other jaw a substance engaged therewith during relative movement of the jaws in one direction and forcing an engaged substance out of engagement with the teeth of, the other aw during movement in the opposite direction.

18. In corn husking apparatus as'a subcombination, a pair of jaws having similar oppositely directed undercut teeth and conlimited longitudinal removement, the teeth of one jaw forcing into the, teeth of the other aw a substance engaged therewith during relative movement of the jaws'in one direction and orcing an engaged substance out of engagement with the teeth of the other jaw during movement in the opposite direction.

19. In corn husking apparatus, a plurality of series of tooth jaws, the jaws of each ciprocatory series traveling in a fixed path, the j aws of the series combining at one point in the travel thereof with the jaws of the remaining series to define an open-ing for the reear of corn, a shiftable member associated with each jaw and when shifted in one direction forcing into engagement with the teeth of its jaw husks engaged therewith, and means operated by the ear for shifting said shiftable member in said direction upon introduction of an ear of corn into the opening.

20. In corn husking apparatus, a plurality of series of tooth jaws, the jaws of each series traveling in a fixed path, the jaws of the series combining at one point in the travel thereof with the aws of the remaining series to define an opening for the reception of an ear of corn, a shiftable member associated with each jaw and when shifted in one direction forcing into engagement with the teeth of its jaw husks engaged therewith, means operated by the ear for shifting said shiftable member in said di reetion upon introduction of an ear of corn into the opening, the paths of said series of tooth jaws being divergent beyond such openings, and means for maintaining the shiftable members in shifted position during .a desired period of divergent travel.

21. In corn husking apparatus, a plurality of seriesof tooth jaws, the jaws of each series traveling in a fiXed path, the jaws of the series combining atone point in the travel thereof with the jaws of the remain ing series to define an openingfor the reception of an ear of corn, a shiftable member assocated with each jaw and when shifted in one direction forcing into engagement with the teeth of its jaw husks engaged therewith, means operated by the ear for shifting said shiftable member in said direction upon introduction of an ear of corn into the opening, the paths of said series divergent beyond such openings, means for maintaining the shiftable members in shifted position during adesired period of divergent travel, adjustable means associated with each series for releasing the last named means, and means for shifting the shiftable members in the opposite direction when released. I

22. In corn husking apparatus, a plurality of series of tooth jaws, the jaws of each series traveling in a fixed path, the jaws of the series combining at one point in the travel thereof with the jaws of the remaining series to define an opening for the reception of an ear of corn, a shiftable member associated with each jaw and when shifted in one direction forcing into engage ment with the teeth of its jaw husks engaged therewith, means operated by the ear for shifting said shiftable member in said direction upon introduction of an ear of corn into the opening, the paths of said series of tooth jaws being divergent beyond such openings, means for maintaining the shiftable members in shifted position during a desired period of divergent travel, adjustable means associated with each series for re leasing the last named means, and means for shifting the shiftable members in the opposite direction when released, each of said shiftable members when shifted in the last named direction disengaging from the teeth of its associated jaw husks engaged therewith.

23. In corn husking apparatus, a support, a plurality of yieldably mounted plungers carried by the support, a toothed jaw carried by each plunger, and means associated with each jaw and operated by movement of the plunger toward the support for forcing into engagement with the teeth of the jaw husks engaged therewith.

24. In corn husking apparatus, a support, a plurality of yieldably mounted plungers carried by the support, a toothed jaw carried by each plunger, and means associated with each jaw and operated by movement of the plunger toward the support for forcing into engagement with the teeth of the aw huslzs engaged therewith comprising a second and similar toothed jaw, said means shifting the last named toothed jaw longitudinally of the first named tooth jaw.

25. In corn husking apparatus, a support, a plurality of yieldably mounted plungers carried by the support, a toothed jaw carried by each plunger, and means associated with each jaw and operated by movement of the plunger toward the support for forcing into engagement with the teeth of the jaw husks engaged therewith comprising a second and similar toothed jaw, said means shifting the last named toothed jaw longitudinally of the first named toothed jaw, the teeth of said jaws being under-cut, said means shifting the shiftable jaw upon the jaw carried by the plunger through a full tooth thereof whereby said movable jaw during its movement in one direction cooperates with the stationary jaw to force into engagement with the teeth thereof the husk and to grip such husk, and in its movement in the opposite direction forces from engagement with the teeth of the stationary jaw husks which have been so gripped.

In gripping mechanism for corn huskers, a support, a yieldably mounted plunger carried thereby, a pair of jaws having oppositely directed teeth carried by the plunger, one of said jaws being stationary with respect to the plunger, the other of the jaws being connected to the stationary jaw for limited reciprocation longitudinally of the stationary jaw, said jaws having oppositely directed teeth, and means carried by the support and engaging the other jaw holding the other jaw against movement during movement of the plunger until said other jaw has shifted to its limit in one direction.

27. In gripping mechanism for corn huskers, a support, a yieldably mounted plunger carried thereby, a pair of jaws having oppositely directed teeth carried by the plunger, one of said jaws being stationary with respect to the plunger, the other of the jaws being connected to the stationary jaw for limited reciprocation longitudinally of the stationary jaw, said jaws having oppositely directed teeth, and means carried by the support and engaging the other jaw holding the other jaw against movement during movement of the plunger until said other jaw has shifted to its limit in one direction, said means yielding upon arrival of said other jaw at the limit of its movement to thereby permit further and unobstructed movement of the plunger.

28. In gripping mechanism for corn huskers, a support, a yieldably mounted plunger carried thereby, a pair of jaws having oppositely directed teeth carried by the plunger, one of said jaws being stationary with respect to the plunger, the other of the jaws being connected to the stationary jaw for limited reciprocation longitudinally of the stationary jaw, said jaws having oppositely directed teeth, means carried by the support and engaging the other aw holding the other jaw against movement during movement of the plunger until said other jaw has shifted to its limit in one direction,

means for holding the plunger in retracted posit-ion, and operating means for said holding means releasing the holding means after a predetermined interval.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

FRANK LEE. 

